Day 1—All Travel...and "Lounging"!

 

Ready to Go!!!

Our flight was nice.  We enjoyed a pre-departure champagne, and even started a James Bond movie (No Time To Die) during boarding, so by the time they brought our meals around, we were at least 30 minutes into it.  Theresa had some sort of pasta cup which she seemed to think was amazing (it was good) and Bill had preordered the sea bass (meh).  We each got ice cream for dessert.  There is just something about a sundae on an airplane that feels extravagant!!

Theresa took a little nap after the movie, and Bill took one after a second movie.  For breakfast, we each got a burrito kind of thing with eggs.

Welcome to Heathrow!!

Once in London, we had to go from Terminal 5 to Terminal 3, which means out and back into security.  It took about 45-60 minutes total.  But once back inside, we hit the Centurion Lounge (first time with them internationally).  It was nice, and the food was enticing, but we had to keep it small.

Second Breakfast??

Theresa's Wonton (L) and Bill's Dan Dan (R)

On to the BA lounge to see if we might swing an upgrade (sure, for 108 British Pounds, or $130 each).  Nah.  Not worth that.  So, on to the Cathay Lounge where Theresa had read they have the BEST showers in Heathrow (who knew there were “levels”?).  They also had a full service dining area, so we started with that, but just got a couple of noodle dishes and a Dim Sum to share.  The soups were both VERY good!  The Dim Sum included a “pork bun” which Theresa assures us was really good, but…meh?

The peanut sauce just does NOT let go!

A much less bright Business Class Lounge!
(With a noodle bar in the background!)

Gratuitous airport pic!!  Planes from many countries.  Lines on the ground, lines in the sky...NICE!!!

After lunch, Theresa went to take a shower and change clothes, and Bill enjoyed some plane watching, although it was too sunny and hot in that spot.  Once she returned, we moved to the Business Class lounge where they had booths in the dark.  Theresa took a work call and Bill rested his head on a sharp corner molding and closed his eyes.

See??  I tried Gin!!  Now can I have a nice Laphroiag? 

At last it was time for the grand finale!  Those who know Bill probably know Scotch is the best (Islays to be sure!).  But, I’ve never liked gins.  I just haven’t ever found one that I DO like.  Well, in Theresa’s research, she found that the QANTAS lounge not only had the best dining experience, but also has a “Gin Bar”.  So, after a bit of heckling from the front desk guy that saw us walk past them on our way to Cathay’s lounge, and head back a few hours later…he tipped us off that “Ray” was the BEST bartender and then made sure she would help us determine if gin is worth the effort or not.

We walked away with three mixed drinks
...and a salad?

We stepped us and started by telling her, “I don’t like gin!  Change my mind!”  We had a lot of fun while she served up a couple of brands, then a sloe gin, and then a couple of mixes.  In the end, we had about 8 or 9 rock glasses with some amount of gin in them.  The verdict??  Opihr is a worthy item to stock (it is a little spicy and has a nice bite), and No 3 is another maybe (it has a hint of citrus kick).  Both were drinkable neat.  I probably won’t ever choose it over a decent single malt Scotch, but if I HAD to have a gin, I have a few directions to lean.  Off to “dinner”.  Sadly, the dinner options were a little sparse and frankly not exciting.  Now, free food is almost always worth the effort of, well, sitting there eating it for free…so this isn’t a complaint.  But it was hyped up so we had high expectations. 

In review, the QANTAS lounge was probably our favorite “experience”, because everyone was amazingly helpful and affable!!  But, food, go to Cathay or Centurion.  Side note…if you can get into any lounge it always beats sitting with throngs of people.  So, we spent a little time thinking about how luck we are to be lounge hopping instead of languishing in long lines to pay exorbitant prices for mediocre food!  Just saying!!